Earth moving devices



Sept. 4, 1962 c. ELENBURG EARTH MOVING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 18, 1958 INVENTOR.

CECIL L. ELENBURG P 1962 c. ELENBURG 3,052,049

EARTH MOVING DEVICES Filed Feb. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.CECIL L. ELENBURG SBYW N THE! AGENT.

Se t. 4, 1962 c. ELENBURG 3,052,049

EARTH MOVING DEVICES Filed Feb. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.CECIL L. ELENBURG United States Patent 3,052,049 EARTH MOVING DEVICESCecil L. Elenburg, Jacksboro, Tern, .assignor to William E. Martin,Kewanee, Ill. Filed Feb. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 715,918 16 Claims. (Cl.37124) This invention relates to improvements in earth moving devices,and more particularly to earth moving devices which may be readilyattached to or detached from conventional grading equipment, such asWheel d graders used in connection with road maintenance, and the like.

The present device is so constructed, that a blade of a motor grader maybe readily removed, and the scraper or earth carrying attachment may be'affixed thereto, thereby giving, double utility to the motor roadgrader.

An object of this invention is to provide an earth moving device whichwill load, scrape, level, and carry dirt over substantial distances, andwhich will discharge the dirt gradually for leveling, or will dump itsuddenly for fills, or the like.

Another object, for one form of the invention, is to provide a fluidactuated scraperfor attachment to a wheeled frame, which wheeled framewith the scraper attachment, may be operated by a single operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which issimple in construction, easy to install upon or to remove from a grader,which attachment is relatively easy to manufacture and to maintain.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in one form ofthe invention, a combination fluid actuated and cable actuated scraper,whereby the scraper may be raised or lowered by a winch mechanism, andthe dirt which is accumulated in the scraper may be ejected therefrom bya fluid actuated cylinder-plunger device.

With these objects in mind, and others which will become manifest as thedescription proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts in theseveral views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a motor grader,

with the scraper unit installed thereon, and showing the dirt retaininghood thereof in raised position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view through the scraper unit, shownapart from the motor grader, with parts broken away and shortened, toshow the details of construction, and showing the hood in closedposition in full outline, the unloading position of the hood and theejector blade being shown in dotted outline;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a motor grader with the earth moving deviceattached thereto;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the earth moving deviceapart from the motor grader;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 2, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

With more detailed reference to the form of the invention, as shown inFIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally amotor driven grader unit, from which the conventional blade has beenremoved. The motor grader unit 1 has power mechanisms 2, one on eachside thereof, to rotate shafts 4. The forward end of each shaft 4- has acrank member 6 secured thereto, as will best be seen in FIG. 5. Thepower mechanisms 2 may either by hydraulically driven or gear driven,but since they are part of the motor grader, and are merely used inconjunction with the present equipment, to perform the primary raisingand lowering of the scraper unit, designated generally by the numeral 8,which is attached to cranks 6 by connecting rods 10, these powermechanisms are not to be considered as part of the present invention.The scraper unit 8 provides a forwardly open. scoop adapted as accessoryequipment having mechanism arranged for rockable and laterallyadjustable-free suspension of the scoop from a structural part of awheeled frame, such scoop providing operable means to pick up materialfor transport and redistribution or for discharge as desired byanoperator.

Each of the connecting rods 10, preferably has a ball and socket jointat each end thereof, so as to give limited universal movement to thescraper unit 8, with respect to the motor grader unit 1. The scraperunit 8 has a bar 12 secured to each lateral side thereof, which bars 12extend forward of the scraper unit to form arigid connection with twotubular braces 14 which converge to form a draw bar, as indicatedgenerally at 16, which rigid connection forms a yoke, which yoke has asufficient clearance to enable the dirt retaining hood 18 toW rk up anddown, as indicated in dashed outline to full outline in FIG. 2,regardless of the particular position of the scraper 8. The draw bar 16,formed by the members 14, is further braced transversely by means oftubular cross brace 20, and is stabilized longitudinally bytubularmembers 22, which connect the converging tubular braces 14. The bracemembers 14- terminate with an interposed sleeve 24 secured'to themeeting forward ends: thereof, the sleeve providing means to receive abolt 26 there- 7 through, to enable pivotal movement of the draw bar 16with respect to bolt 26. The .outer end of the bolt 26 has a ball joint28 thereon, to inter-fit within a standard socket'30 which is secured tothe front end of the motor grader unit 1. With this means of suspensionof the forward part of the draw bar structure 16 which is connected withthe scraper unit 8, the scraper is capable of universal motionin-respectto the grader frame and about the draw bar connection of thescraper unit with the frame of t-hegrader The dirt retaining hood 18hasbars 17 extending rearwardly thereof, which bars 17 pivotally connect;by means of pins 19, to the respective sides 32 of the scraper 8. Afluid cylinder 34 is pivotally connected to the respective side members32 on each side of the scraper unit 8. Each cylinder 34 has aplunger 36extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end of each plunger 36 ispivotally connected at 38 to the respective bars 17, so upon applicationof fluid pressure through conduit 40, the raising and lowering of thedirt retaining hood 18 may be readily accomplished. Acontrolvalve 42 isprovided to regulate fluid flow within the conduit 40, and the valve 42is locatedwithin easy reach ofthe operator, to provide means forcontrolling the movement of the bars 17.

When the hood 18 is in raised position, as indicated in dashed outlinein FIG. 2, andwith the blade 44-positioned transversely of the bottommember 46-of-.the scraper unit 8, and lowered into the position, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, earth may be directed into the scraper receiveror box, until the cavity thereof is filled, whereupon, the hood 18 maybe lowered, by the operation of the plungers 36 of the fluid cylinders34-, to retain the dirt until it is desired for the dirt to be ejectedfrom the scraper unit.

. An ejectorblade 48, having a guide member' Sll on each side thereof,is positioned between side memberst32 of the scraper 8, in such mannerthat the guide angle 52 projects inward from each side to.interengagethe respective guide members 50, so as to maintain theejector 3 blade 48 in vertical position during the length of travelthereof within the chamber or box of the scraper unit 8.

A hydraulic cylinder 54 has one end attached to the scraper unit 8 bymeans of a system of braces 56 including an upright support plate, whichbraces the rear ends of the scraper side plates 32 and the bottom member46 of the scraper unit 8, which hydraulic cylinder 54 has a plunger 57therein, which plunger '57 extends into the receptacle portion of thescraper unit 8 and is connected to ejector blade 48, so upon applicationof pressure through hose 58, the ejector blade 48 is moved in guidedrelation between the scraper walls from the position as shown in fulloutline in FIG. 2, to the position shown in dotted outline therein. Uponapplication of pressure to conduit 60, the hydraulic plunge 57 isreturned to the position as shown in full outline in FIG. 2. A controlvalve 62 is provided in conduit 6% and is positioned to be within easyreach of the operator, whereby the operation of the hydraulic cylinder54 and plunger 57 may be controlled.

A ball joint 64 is mounted on an angle member 65 at the upper'side ofthe scraper 8, intermediate the side members 32 thereof, to which balljoint 64 is connected a connecting rod 66, which connecting rod 66 has aball and socket connection at each end thereof. The connecting rod 66 isconnected to a traversing mechanism, such as a rack and pinionarrangement 68 and 70, which pinion may be power driven in theconventional manner, by the grader mechanism, as is well known in theart.

At the rear of the scraper 8, a number of brace rods 72, at least two,extend from the upper lateral corners of the scraper unit and convergetoward the rear end of the cylinder 54 as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,with the rear outboard end of the cylinder 54 being thus braced toprevent lateral and vertical movement with respect to the scraper unitthrough such brace rods 72, The cylinder 54, is therefore, carried bythe scraper unit and has one end thereof rigidly mounted on the scraperto project freely outwardly from the rear of the scraper as a rigidprojection to provide a guide structure for the ejector blade as ishereinafter described. The outboard end of cylinder 54 is stabilized bythe above described brace means 56 and rods 72.

The hydraulic cylinder 54 fulfills the guide function mentioned byadapting its exterior circular body surface to accommodate a sleeve 53which is mounted thereon and in sliding bearing relation with the outerdiameter of the cylinder 54. Braces 55 are secured to sleeve 53', extendforward and are secured at widely separated points to the rear face ofthe movable ejector blade 48. It is preferable to have at least two ofthese braces connected to the ejector blade, one to each lateral end, soas to enable the blade to be stabilized with respect to the cylinder'54. The cylinder 54 is attached to the brace plate of the braceassembly 56 in such manner as to permit braces 55to follow the ejectorblade 48 inward upon movement of the plunger 57.

With the above described arrangement, the hydraulic cylinder '54 isfreely suspended from one end in free, clear and open relation beyondthe rear limits of the scraper unit 8 where it is well stabilized by thebrace rods 72 with respect to the brace assembly 56 of scraper unit 8.Rods 72 are divergently angled from the outboard end of cylinder 54toward the scraper forming an open centered framework to permit thebodily operation of the ejector blade 48 by the plunger 57 and the bladeguidance structure comprising the braces 55 with their sleeve 53 ridingon cylinder '54, such braces being connected with the ejector blade 48.

Operation 18 is raised to the desired height above blade 44. When it isdesired to scrape a level path, each of the power units 2 is manipulatedto cause cranks 6 to lower the blade 44 to the desired depth ofengagement into the ground, whereupon, the motor grader unit 1 is movedforward, which will cause the cutting of a slice of earth by the scraperunit 8, which cut earth will move into the chamber C of the scraperunit. Then with the ejector blade 48 in the rear-most position thereof,as indicated in full outline in FIG. 2, the chamber or box C will befilled with earth. With the hood 18 raised, to the position as shown indashed outline in FIG. 2, the earth will continue to roll, until thehood 18 retains the dirt and prevents it from falling forward. Asadditional dirt is scooped into the chamber C, it will be accumulatedtherein until the scraper element 8 is filled and heaped with the dirt.When the desired amount of dirt or earth has been scooped into thescraper 8, the hood 18 is lowered, by action of the valve 42 withinfluid conduit 40, which will cause plungers 36 to move arms 17 downward,under the influence of gravity, until the hood 18 is in the position asshown in full outline in FIG. 2. The scraper assembly 8 may be raised bypower mechanisms 2, which power mechanisms are connected to the scraperunit 8 by means of connecting rods 10, cranks 6 and rotatable shafts 4-,therefore, upon rotation of shafts 4, in one direction, the cranks 6will lift the scraper unit 8 clear of the ground, and upon rotation ofthe shafts 4 in the opposite direction, the blade 44 of the scraper unit8 will engage the ground to the desired depth, as described above.

When the scraper unit 8 is lifted upward, and with the scraper blade 44free of the ground, the motor grader may travel across the terrain at acomparatively rapid rate of speed, without loss of the contents of thechamber C, because the hood 18 has been lowered to retain the contentsof the chamber until the place of discharge is reached.

When it is desired to discharge the dirt from the chamber C, the hood 18is raised the desired amount, as the plunger 57 of the hydrauliccylinder 54, to which the ejector blade 48 is attached, is moved forwardby the manipulation of hydraulic control valve 62. The rapidity withwhich the dirt is ejected from the chamber C may be controlled, so thatall the dirt may be dumped at one stroke, or the valve 62 may be so setas to cause the plunger 57 to move forward slowly, as the motor graderis moved along, and by lowering the scraper unit 8 until the blade 44just clears the ground, the dirt within the chamber C may be spreadevenly over the desired area. However, by raising one of the cranks 6and lowering the other of the cranks 6, the dirt may be ejected in amanner to cause a crowning action, or the scraper may be movedlaterally, by the actuation of the gears 70 and gear rack 68, which inturn, will move connecting rod 66 from one side to the other, asindicated in dot-dash outline in FIG. 5, thereby providing for movementwhich will give a variety of leveling or filling effects of the dirt asit is discharged from the scraper unit 8.

The versatility of movement of the scraper element 8, 60 due to thetipping and/or swinging action therof about the supporting axis of theball joint 28, makes it possible to obtain various efiects'in handlingthe dirt, such as leveling or filling, and transporting scraped up dirtover considerable distances, economically, under conditions 65 which mayvary considerably, without loss of dirt between the place of loading andthe place of discharge.

It should be observed that a lateral angular displacement of the scraperunit 8 through such mechanisms as the operably connected rack 68, pinion70 and the arm 70 66 will rock the scraper unit universally relativelyto the frame of the grader about the ball joint 28 to allow the scraperto assume transverse angular positions with respect to the line ofadvance of the motor driven grader.

This will direct one lateral end of the scraper blade 44 75 to workahead of the other lateral end of the blade. Then,

for example, by operating the cranks 6 to adjustably lower one lateralside of the scraper unit 8 at the same side as the leading portion ofthe blade 44, while raising the other side of the scraper unit, anaction is developed having a grading and filling manipulation withbeneficial results in the flexibility of the enhanced use of the grader.The scraper receptacle is quickly filled both upwardly and laterallyunder the dual angle cant of the scraper causing fast eifective filling.Subsequent operation of the ejector blade 48 with the scraper suspendedas described makes possible a discharge of varying depth of material forgrade angle fill which is also controlled by the ejector blade in thedouble tilt scraper unit 8.

While this form of invention has been described as being actuated byfluid cylinders, it is to be understood that either fluid or hydraulicaction or both may be used, where applicable, Without restriction toeither, as it is preferable to use air within cylinder 34 to actuateplunger 36, to open and close the dirt retaining hood 18.

Modified Form of Invention A modified form of the invention is shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. However, the numbering as shown on FIGS. 1-6 has beenused, in so far as applicable, and new numbers have been used only todesignate new parts and the operating mechanism therefor.

The present improvement relates to the particular manner of raising andlowering the dirt retaining hood 18, and only a fragmentary frontportion of the motor grader and a section therethrough have beenillustrated, to show the mechanism that is different from that shown inFIGS. 1 through 6. The scraper 8 is mounted on the motor grader 1 in amanner similar to that shown and described in the aforementioned form ofinvention, and all the movements as to raising and lowering the scraperunit 8 and of ejecting the dirt, and movement of the scraper unitlaterally, or tipping it into a single angle or into a double angle ortilt,'and the loading and discharging of dirt from chamber C are stillto be had.

The principal point of difference rests in the mechanism for raising andlowering the dirt retaining hood 1 8 by means of a power driven winchunit which is designated generally by the numeral 80. This power drivenwinch unit includes a gear housing. 81 having a power in-put shaft 82which is driven by suitable means, such as a fluid motor, gearing or thelike. A shaft 84 passes therethrough and is connected in geared relationto the power input shaft 82, so as to rotate winch drums 86 which aremounted on and secured to shaft 84.

It is preferable to mount the power driven winch unit 80 on theforwardly extending frame member 1a of the motor grader 1, in suchmanner that the shaft 84 may be supported by a bearing 88 near one ofthe winch drums 86 or bearings within the gearing unit 80' supportingthe other end of the shaft 84. A base 90 may be provided for the powerdriven winch unit 80', which base should be of sufiicient length tosuitably support and to stabilize unit 80 and bearing 88 with respect tothe frame member 1a. The winch drums on which a cable 92 is wound, arespaced upon shaft 84 to occupy positions directly above spaced sheaves94 with the scraper unit or scoop 8 centered with respect to the grader,which sheaves are mounted within brackets 96 on hood 18 for rotation onthe bracket supported pins 98. The brackets 96 are welded or otherwisesecured to a transverse memher 100 on the forward edge of dirt retaininghood 18.

With the faces of the respective winch drums 8'6 positioned above andarranged in tangentially aligned relation with one of the curvate facesof the respective sheaves 94, the cable 92 is passed around the sheaves94 and around the winch drums 86 in the same direction, so upon turningmovement of the winch drums 86, in one direction, the cable 92 will bespooled thereonto, to cause the raising of the sheaves 94 and the dirtretaining hood 18 connected thereto, since the bars 17 are pivotallyconnected at 19 to the sides of the scraper-unit 8.

The pull on each lead of cable 92, by the respective winch drums 86 willalways be the same, however, with the arrangement as described, thescraper unit 8 may be shifted laterally, from side to side, or raisedand lowered, or tilted about a medial axis of draw bar 16, with thelooped portion of the cable 92 passing over sheaves 94 to equalize, sothat the cable will present equal lifting efieet on the dirt retaininghood 18, regardless of the position the scraper unit 8 occupies.

Obviously appropriate independent regulation of the hood 18 is possibleby. an operator under operative conditions to pay out additional slackor to gather in slack in cable 92 to determine hood positions withrespect to the scoop or scraper unit 8. Normally, with the scraper .unit8 disposed in a given position with respect to the grader frame 1a andwith the hood 18 bearing a given relation with respect to the scraperunit 8, as adjusted through cable 92 by the operator, tilting of thescraper unit 8 about a given axis will not change the selected hoodposition in relation to the scraper unit 8. Also, once. the hood isadjusted to withhold the earth or other material within the scoop orscraper unit, the raising of the latter will not change this operativerelationship due to the slackening of thecable 92 which slack mayreadily be taken up by the operator to meet conditions of operation.

Operation of Modified Form of Invention With the cable connected to thedirt retaining hood 18 in the manner described, the scraper unit 8 maybe lowered by the manipulation of a lever to operate suitable controlmcchanisms, such as lever 102, which, if needed, will cause shaft 82 torotate in the desired direction, as by moving the lever 102 in onedirection from the neutral position, to cause the winch drums 86 to windthe cable 92 thereonto to lift the dirt retaining hood 18 to theposition as shown in FIG. 7. However, by moving the lever 102 fromneutral to the opposite direction, the control mechanisms function tocause the winch drums '86 to unwind the cable 92 to lower the dirtretaining hood 18 into closed position, as indicated in dashed outlinein FIG. 7. The manner of operating the scraperunit 8 to engage theground to the desired depth to load same, or to shift it from side toside, or to tilt it, may be done in the same manner as set out in theaforementioned form of the invention.

The present cable arrangement, however, enables quick and positiveopening and closing of the dirt retaining hood 18, from the operatorcontrol position, while the motor grader is being driven at the normaloperating speed.

In view of the fact that the motor grader is constructed for high speedtravel, in the maintenance of roads and the like, these motor graders ormaintainers effectively scoop up the dirt, with the present device, movethe dirt and discharge it in such manner that frequently it is neitherfeasible nor desirable to employing large, heavy earth moving equipmenton the job. in fact the present device may cut a swath of the earthsurface, and distribute this in low places in graduated amounts, byslightly.raising the earth retaining hood 18 and discharging the dirtthereunder and out of the scraper unit, and by moving the plunger of thecylinder 54 as needed, to accommodate road or ground surface contourconditions and to also accommodate and gauge the discharge of dirt andmaterial with respect to the speed of the grader.

This form of the invention presents a simple, effective mechanical wincharrangement, which is low in cost, to operate the dirt retaining hoodwithout the necessity of an air or hydraulic fluid cylinder beingconnected thereto.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in some detail,it is to be understood that changes may be made in the minor details ofconstruction, and adaptations .made to different installations, withoutdeparting 7 from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In earth moving accessory equipment attached to a mobile device, incombination, a frame on said device, an earth scraper unit having abottom and two sides, an ejector blade carried within said scraper unitto provide means for discharging materials from within said scraperunit, a draw bar structure attached to said scraper unit and extendingforwardly thereof and connected with said frame, swingable operatingmechanism carried by said frame and connected with said scraper unit fortransverse rooking of and to adjustably suspend said scraper unit forlateral motion with respect to said frame, said operating mechanismincluding power actuated means to freely manipulate and to adjust saidscraper unit relatively to said frame, movable supporting membersmounted upon said scraper unit and having a closure element forming amaterial retaining hood for at least partially closing the materialreceiving end of said scraper unit when disposed in one position,winches mounted upon said frame, a pair of sheaves connected with saidmaterial retaining hood, a length of cable having its ends connectedwith each of said winches and forming a dependent loop portion to passaround each of said sheaves to provide means for operating said materialretaining hood and to accommodate all free swinging regulation of saidcombined hood and scraper unit under the action of said swingableoperating mechanism.

2. In earth moving accessory equipment attached to a mobile device, incombination, a frame on said device, an earth scraper unit having abottom and two sides, an ejector blade slidably mounted within saidscraper unit for discharging materials from within said scraper unit, adraw bar structure connected with said scraper unit and havingconnection with said frame, operating mechanism carried by said frameand connected with said scraper unit to manipulate said scraper unitrelatively to said frame, and means for moving said ejector bladerelative to the bottom and the sides of said scraper unit comprising afluid cylinder mounted upon the rear portion of said scraper unit andextending outwardly therefrom, said cylinder having a plunger connectedwith said ejector blade, brace members connected with outer edgeportions of said ejector blade and extending rearwardly and inwardly, asleeve fitted around said fluid cylinder and slidable thereon, saidrearwardly extending brace members on said ejector blade havingconnection with said slidable sleeve of said cylinder, and additionalbrace members connected with the lateral outer corners of said scraperunit and extending to and being connected with the rear end of saidfluid cylinder, said draw bar comprising at least two members arrangedto converge in wardly ahead of said scraper unit for pivotal connectionwith said frame intermediate the width thereof.

3. In an earth moving machine for releasable attachment with a wheeledgrader, in combination, an overhead frame on said grader, an earthreceiving scraper positioned beneath said overhead frame and beingdefined by a bottom and two upwardly directed sides, a transverse wallmember carried within said scraper and guided along the bottom and sidesthereof, said wall member forming a movable end for the scraper andproviding means to discharge a material load from within said scraper, adraw bar connected with the scraper and, having connection with aportion of the overhead frame, operable mechanism on said overhead frameconnected with and suspending said scraper including means forregulating the position of said scraper underneath the overhead frame ofsaid grader, a movable scraper hood located beneath the overhead frameand connected with said scraper to provide a material retaining closureelement for at least partially closing the front end of the scraper whensaid hood is disposed in one position, winch means mounted upon saidoverhead frame of said grader substantially above said materialretaining hood, with at least one cable extending downwardly from saidwinch means and operatively connected with said material retaining hoodof the scraper below the overhead frame, and operative means connectedto drive said Winch means to selectively acuate said hood in the areabeneath said grader frame and in relation said scraper through theinstrumentality of said one cable.

4. In an earth moving machine of the character set forth and defined inclaim 3, wherein said winch means comprises two cable drumssupported'for operation at cable extending downwardly from each of saidcable drums respectively and having operative lifting connection withsaid material retaining hood in spaced apart locations thereon.

5. In an earth moving machine of the character set forth and defined inclaim 4, wherein said lengths of cable are connected in a continuousmanner to provide a depending closed cable loop that is adapted tobodily shift and to follow the motions of the scraper and its assembledmaterial retaining hood, and wherein sheaves are supplied upon saidmaterial retaining hood to accommodate the closed end of the cable looptherebeneath, said loop providing the continuation of the lengths ofcable extending downwardly from the spaced cable drums.

6. In a surface grader having a Wheeled chassis supporting conventionalsurface working tool assemblies therefrom to selectively engageunderlying ground surface areas, in combination, an overhead frame onsaid chassis, a material gathering scoop to replace said tool assembliesto convert said grader to a material carrier having controlledredistribution facilities, and control means on said frame to supportsaid scoop and to regulate the operative positions of said scoop beneathsaid frame to carry out the functions of said scoop, said control meansincluding swingable suspension links connected with spaced points on thescoop to allow transverse shifting of the scoop into various positionsin relation to the frame, said scoop being forwardly open and havingdraw bar members secured to spaced portions of the scoop and arranged toangle upwardly and forwardly away from said open end of the scoop andconnected with the overhead frame, a hood structure pivotally supportedupon said scoop to open and close the forwardly open end thereof, powermeans connected with said hood structure to selectively raise or lowersaid structure relatively to the open end of said scoop, and orientationmeans for said power means mounted upon said overhead frame in aposition to dispose said power means in a given operative relation withrespect to said scoop, said power means including a flexible suspensionmeans adapted to follow the movements of the shiftable scoop while underthe influence of the swingable suspension links of said control means.

7. In an earth moving scoop having supporting and manipulating meansconnected therewith to suspend said scoop from a wheeled frame, saidscoop comprising an upwardly open material carrying receptacle havingopen ends, an ejector blade mounted for end to end motion within saidreceptacle to provide means for discharging material from within saidscoop, power mechanism for actuating said ejector blade comprising afluid cylinder having a forward portion fixedly mounted upon a rigidpart of the scoop and having a plunger connected with said blade, andstabilizing means to maintain said blade in a predetermined relationwith respect to the fore and aft wall of the receptacle during theoperation of said blade by said cylinder plunger comprising a sleevemember slidably mounted upon the surface of said cylinder, and braceelements secured to said sleeve member and connected with said blade atspaced points located transversely to said blade whereby said ejectorblade is directed i, g in true transverse relation by said cylinderthrough said receptacle between the fore and aft walls thereof.

8. In the apparatus of clafm 7, wherein said connected forward portionthe cylinder is fixedly mounted upon the rear end of said receptacle andin a given longitudinal relation with respect to the rear open end ofthe receptable, one end of said cylinder providing a stop means for theejector blade when said blade is fully retracted by the cylinderplunger, said cylinder projecting outwardly from said receptacle memberfor the full motion of the ejection stroke of the blade as determined bythe stroke of the plunger of said cylinder.

9. In the apparatus of claim 7, wherein said cylinder is centered withrespect to said receptacle and said sleeve connected brace elementsdiverge outwardly away from said slidable sleeve and from the cylinderaxis to connect with said ejector blade at widely separated pointsoppositely located with respect to the cylinder axis, and furtherstabilizing brace rods are connected with the cylinder at their outerends and with the receptacle at widely separated points flanking thepath of operation of the ejector blade.

10. In a surface grader having a wheeled chassis supporting conventionalsurface working t-ool assemblies therefrom to selectively engageunderlying ground surface areas, in combination, an overhead frame onsaid chassis, a material gathering scoop to replace said tool assembliesto convert said grader to a material carrier having controlledredistribution facilities, and control means on said frame to supportsaid scoop and to regulate the operative posit-ions of said scoopbeneath said frame to carry out the functions of said scoop, saidcontrol means including swingable suspension links connected with spacedpoints on the scoop to allow transverse shifting of the scoop intovarious positions in relation to the frame, said scoop being forwardlyopen and having draw bar members secured to spaced portions of the scoopand arranged to angle upwardly and forwardly away from said open end ofthe scoop for connection with the overhead frame, a hood structurepivotally supported upon said scoop to open and close the forwardly openend thereof, power means connected with said hood structure toselectively raise or lower said structure relatively to the open end ofsaid scoop, and orientation means to support said power means in a givenrelation with respect to said scoop so as to enable said power means tofollow the movements of the shiftable scoop while under the influence ofthe swingable suspension links of said control means, said control meansincluding operable cranks swingable upon independently spaced axes andconnected with said suspension links to provide dual means to bodilyraise and lower said scoop as a unit or to alternately raise and loweropposite side portions thereof for regulating the lateral tilt of saidscoop beneath said overhead frame.

11. In a surface grader having a wheeled chassis supporting conventionalsurface working tool assemblies therefrom to selectively engageunderlying ground surface areas, in combination, an overhead frame onsaid chassis, a material gathering scoop to replace said tool assembliesto convert said grader to a material carrier having controlledredistribution facilities, and control means on said frame to supportsaid scoop and to regulate the operative positions of said scoop beneathsaid frame to carry out the functions of said scoop, said control meansincluding swingable suspension links connected with spaced points on thescoop to allow transverse shifting of the scoop into various positionsin relation to the frame, said scoop being forwardly open and havingdraw bar member-s secured to spaced portions of the scoop and arrangedto angle upwardly and forwardly away from said open end of the scoop forconnection with the overhead frame, a hood structure pivotally supportedupon said scoop to open and close the forwardly open end thereof, powermeans connected with said hood structure to selectively raise or lowersaid structure relatively to the open end of said scoop, and orientationmeans to support said power means in a given relation with respect tosaid scoop so as to enable said power means to follow the movements ofthe shiftable scoop while under the influence of the swingablesuspension links of said control means, said power means comprisingspaced winch drums carrying a single cable disposed in looped suspensionunder said frame and from said drums, and said hood structure includingsheaves spaced under said drums to accommodate the hood structure end ofsaid looped cable, said orientation means being mounted upon saidoverhead frame of the grader chassis to support said drums in givenrelation with respectto said frame.

12. In a surface grader having a wheeled chassis supporting conventionalsurface working tool assemblies therefrom to selectively engageunderlying ground surface areas, in combination, an overhead frame onsaid chassis, a material gathering scoop to replace said tool assembliesto convert said grader to a material carrier having controlledredistribution facilities, and control means on said frame to supportsaid scoop and to regulate the operative positions of said scoop beneathsaid frame to carry out the functions of said scoop, said control meansincluding swingable suspension links connected with spaced points on thescoop to allow transverse shifting of the scoop into various positionsin relation to the frame, said scoop being forwardly open and havingdraw bar members secured to spaced portions of the scoop and arranged toangle upwardly and forwardly away from said open end of the scoop forconnection with the overhead frame, a hood structure pivotally supportedupon said scoop to open and close the forwardly open end thereof, powermeans connected with said hood structure to selectively raise or lowersaid structure relatively to the open end of said scoop, and orientationmeans to support said power means in a given relation with respect tosaid scoop so as to enable said power means to follow the movements ofthe shiftable scoop while under the influence of the swingablesuspension links of said control means, said control means including anoperating rod connected at one end with said scoop and reaching towardsaid overhead frame together with power apparatus interposed betweensaid frame and the other adjacent end of the operating rod to actuatethe latter for manipulating the scoop between selected positions.

13. In a surface grader having a wheeled chassis supporting conventionalsurface working tool assemblies therefrom to selectively engageunderlying ground surface areas, in combination, an overhead frame onsaid chassis, a material gathering scoop to replace said tool assembliesto convert said grader to a material carrier having controlledredistribution facilities, and control means on said frame to supportsaid scoop and to regulate the operative positions of said scoop beneathsaid frame to carry out the functions of said scoop, said control meansincluding swingable suspension links connected with spaced points on thescoop to allow transverse shifting of the scoop into various positionsin relation to the frame, said scoop being forwardly open and havingdraw bar members secured to spaced portions of the scoop and arranged toangle upwardly and forwardly away from said open end of the scoop forconnection with the overhead frame, a hood structure pivotally supportedupon said scoop to open and close the forwardly open end thereof, powermeans connected with said hood structure to selectively raise or lowersaid structure relatively to the open end of said scoop, and orientationmeans to support said power means in a given relation with respect tosaid scoop so as to enable said power means to follow the movements ofthe shiftable scoop while under the influence of the swingablesuspension links of said control means, said control means including anoperating rod connected at one end with said scoop and reaching towardsaid overhead frame together with power apparatus interposed betweensaid frame and the other adjacent end of the operating rod to actuatethe latter for manipulating the scoop between selected positions, saidpower apparatus comprising a rack movably mounted upon the frame formotion in a direction transverse with respect to the grader, saidoperating rod being connected with said rack, and drive means connectedto rotate a pinion journalled on said frame and meshing with saidmovable rack to actuate the latter for shifting the position of saidscoop with respect to said frame.

14. A material handling and grading vehicle comprising, in combination,a mobile machine, a material handling and grading scoop having a cuttingedge to engage the material, a supporting frame on said machine, andcooperative scoop suspension mechanisms carried by said frame andconnected with said scoop for the universal manipulation of the scoopand its cutting edge in relation to said frame and to the material beingacted upon, said suspension mechanisms comprising spaced suspensionmembers supported for swinging motion on separate axes and connectedwith said scope, individually operable power driven actuation members onsaid frame connected to selectively raise and lower said memberssimultaneous ly or individually and oppositely to bodily change thematerial working angle of said scoop and its cutting edge in a skywardplane, a draw bar structure connected with said scoop to project to alocation adjacent said supporting frame, universal coupling means toconnect said draw bar structure with said frame to permit the scoop toswing laterally while accommodating the rocking of the scoop by saidsuspension members, and power means connected to swing said scooplaterally with respect to the frame, said scoop being selectivelypositionable by said cooperative suspension mechanisms into various dualcanted positions with respect to the line of advance of the mobilemachine and frame and with respect to the general level of the materialbeing worked upon to force material over the cutting edge of the scoopinto said scoop both rearwardly and upwardly, and laterally andupwardly, to varying selected depths within and across said scoopbottorn by supplying material from the lowermost location of the dualcanted cutting edge of the scoop under the movement of said mobilemachine.

15. In a combination as in claim 14 with the addition of an ejectionblade mounted for movement within said scoop, and power means to actuatesaid blade relative to said scoop to discharge the scoop held materialfrom said scoop in proportion to the amounts of material occupying saidvarying selected depths within said canted scoop.

16. In a combination as set forth and defined in claim 15 furtherincluding a dirt retaining hood at the cutting edge portion of the scoopand power mechanism to regulate the location of said hood to establish afurther regulatory material discharge control means on said cantedscoop.

References ()ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,074,565 Shaetfer Mar. 23, 1937 2,107,119 Price Feb. 1, 1938 2,121,565Latimer June 21, 1938 2,253,745 Wold et a1 Aug. 26, 1941 2,258,038 TitusOct. 7, 1941 2,271,790 Allin Feb. 3, 1942 2,464,110 Wright Mar. 8, 19492,597,496 Jeffrey May 20, 1952 2,677,202 Gustafson May 4, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 123,481 Australia Feb. 13, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nos 3 O52,049 September 4. 1962 CecilLo Elenburg It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

for "acuate" read actuate line Column 8 line 8 des of said overhead l3after "at" insert opposite si grader frame a length of s Signed andsealed this 16th day of April 1963.,

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer

